Sphaeropthalma tapio Pitts & Sadler, sp. nov.

(Figs 1–9)

Diagnosis of male. As this species is the only member of the S. tapio species-group, it can be diagnosed by the species-group characters. Additionally, the ocelli are smaller than in many other Sphaeropthlama with the ocellocullar distance 2 × the width of the lateral ocellus (Fig. 2). Also, the head and mesosoma are testaceous, while the legs and the metasoma are piceous (Fig. 1).

Description of male. Coloration and setal pattern. Head, coxae and mesosoma testaceous (Fig. 1). Legs, except coxae and femur base, and entire metasoma piceous. Antenna testaceous, or with flagellum infuscated. Body covered in sparse erect white brachyplumose setae, except mesoscutum with yellowish orange setae. Legs, especially tibia, with elongate dense white setae (Fig. 5). T2 with weak indistinct fringe of white plumose setae. Wings hyaline with brown setae. Pterostigma and veins dark brown.

Head. Quadrate posteriorly; parallel behind eyes; temple ~1 × eye width; weakly punctate throughout (Fig. 2). Eye small. Ocelli small, interocellar distance ~1.5 × lateral ocellus diameter, ocellocular distance ~2 × lateral ocellus diameter (Fig. 2). Glabrous triangular region present anterior to median ocellus. Antennal scrobe tuberculate dorsally. Mandible tridentate, broadly dilated, vertical throughout (Fig. 3). Mandible with slight ventral excision resulting in basal angulation (Fig. 3). Clypeus truncate apically (Fig. 2). Clypeus greatly depressed below dorsal margin of mandibles with anterior horizontal and posterior vertical portions (Fig. 2). Malar space ~1 × pedicel length. Hypostomal carina dentate medially (Fig. 4). First flagellomere ~2 × pedicel length. Second flagellomere longer than first, ~3 × pedicel length.

Mesosoma. Moderately punctate. Notauli complete. Parapsidal furrows present on posterior ~0.5 of mesonotum. Propodeal dorsum coarsely punctate, vertical and lateral faces reticulate, becoming coarsely punctate ventrally. Mesosternum unarmed. Metasternum bilobate. Tibial spur formula 1-2-2. Hind basal tarsal segment slightly bent. Coxae and trochanters unarmed. Marginal cell ~1.4 × stigma length as measured along costa. Fore wing with 2 submarginal cells (Fig. 1).

Metasoma. T1 petiolate with T2 (Fig. 1). T1 weakly punctate. T2 punctures small, weak; interspaces ~5 × puncture diameter, nitid. T3–T6 micropunctate, setae dense, short. T7 wider than long; nitid, except apical margin bearing dense setal fringe. S1 flattened, without medial longitudinal carina. S2 felt line tuft-like (Fig. 6). S2 with triangular nitid concavity anteriorly leading to slight medial swelling. S2–S6 punctures as in T2–T6, S7 punctures small, dense. S3–S6 flattened, long setae present laterally; longest laterally on S6 (Fig. 6). S7 rounded, concave; lateral and posterior margins with long setae, longest on posterior margin; apical margin dentate medially.

Genitalia. Paramere arcuate, stout throughout except extreme apex tapering, dorsoventrally flattened, curved towards midline at 0.5 × free length to ventral lobe, curving away from midline at apex; internal margin along basal half with dense plumose setae (Figs 7–9). Cuspis subequal to paramere length, somewhat paddle shaped and flattened, dilated towards apex, dorsum asetose, inner margin basally with long dense plumose setae, apical half with plumose setae dorsally, large basal pit present with long plumose setae (Figs 7–9). Basal lobe present on cuspis, setose (Figs 7–9). Digitus cylindrical, short, setose (Figs 7–9). Penis valve bidentate ventrally, not angulate dorsally.

Body length. 14–19.5 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Found in southern Arizona, USA at seemingly higher altitudes.

Material examined. Holotype, ♂: Arizona, Cochise, Co., Ash Canyon, 5500’, Huachuca Mts., 22.Aug.1971, R.R. Snelling (EMUS). 2 Paratypes: Arizona, Cochise Co., Onion Saddle nr Portal, 1 ♂, 31.Jul.1996, E. Buckner & F.A. Opler (CSUC); Arizona, Cochise Co., Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mts, 8 mi S Sierra Vista, 1 ♂, 30, 21– 22.Jul. 2006, K.A. Williams & J.S. Wilson, DNA Voucher JP 573 (EMUS).

Etymology. Tapio is an East Finnish forest spirit, who is discussed in the Kalevala. Treat as a noun in apposition.

Remarks. This species seems to occur at only higher altitudes. Portal and the surrounding lowland areas of Arizona around the Chiricahua and the Huachuca mountains have been extensively collected by JPP, J.S. Wilson and K.A. Williams resulting in ~80,000 nocturnal mutillid specimens. This resulted in no specimens of S. tapio, sp. nov., at low elevations. Also, judging from collecting localities and the smaller size of the ocelli, this species may be crepuscular rather than truly nocturnal.